Nationally known speaker to be at League of Women voters event

(From the League of Women Voters of Southwest Missouri)

League of Women Voters of Southwest Missouri is hosting an event Oct. 4 designed to inspire women to be involved in the democratic process and to help equip them to run for public office in the future.

    “Women Leaders: A Conversation with Jessica Grounds” will feature nationally known speaker Jessica Grounds, who is executive director of Running Start, an organization based in Washington, D.C. dedicated to motivating and educating young women to become political leaders. The event will be held at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 4, at Kentwood Hall, 700 E. St. Louis St.

    In addition to her speech, the event will showcase winners of the League’s cell-phone photo contest “Picturing Women Leaders.” Tickets for the wine and hors d’oeuvre reception are $20 for adults and $10 for students. Purchase tickets here. 

    Individuals may also register now for a companion training event in November. “Speak up, Power up, Step up!” is a one-day training session that will be held from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 10. Presenter will be Catherine Gray, senior partner at Clarity Central, who is recognized nationwide for her leadership in growing the Vote Run Lead Program at The White House Project. The workshop is designed to prepare women who are considering running for elective office, wanting to serve on public boards or commissions or seeking to improve their skills in public policy leadership. A limited number of seats are available. The cost is $50. Register here or get more details on Facebook at “League of Women Voters of Southwest Missouri.”

    This  League initiative is made possible by a major grant from the Missouri State University Public Affairs Program; and the generosity of these sponsors: AT&T; Allison Cash; Community Foundation of the Ozarks; Drury University Departments of Communications, Community Outreach and Leadership Development, and Women and Gender Studies; Ann Elwell; Empire Bank/Central Trust; Husch Blackwell; MaMa Jean’s Natural Market; Evelyn Gwin Mangan; MSU Departments of Communications, Political Science and Gender Studies; Dr. Nancy O’Reilly; and Webster University.